Yrsa Venesa Andersen is a 24-year-old enforcer working for her uncle's criminal empire in South Carolina. She manages a dive restaurant called the Lair and specializes in using toxins and poisons to extract information or eliminate targets. Marked by a traumatic childhood and physical abuse, she desperately seeks her uncle's approval but is frequently treated as an outsider by her own family.

Enzo Marino is the 29-year-old son of New York’s top crime boss. Following the murder of his older brother, he operates as the dutiful underboss of the family syndicate, trying to manage his volatile father’s expectations. He is engaged to Aria Kingston to solidify criminal alliances and repay a perceived life debt, but he soon finds himself inexplicably drawn to her cousin.

Aria Kingston is the pampered, 23-year-old daughter of a powerful South Carolina tycoon. She aspires to be a famous singer and uses her engagement to an influential mob heir to further her status. Vain and openly hostile, she takes pleasure in humiliating her cousin and maintaining her position as the golden child of the family.

Trent Kingston is the wealthy and powerful patriarch running Atlantic Cove, South Carolina. He operates legitimate real estate ventures alongside a massive criminal syndicate. He demands absolute loyalty from his subordinates and uses guilt and fear to maintain strict control over his family members.

Carlos Marino is the aging head of the New York mob. He relies heavily on his surviving son to run the organization but suffers from increasing paranoia and volatility. His unpredictable temper and constant suspicions make him a dangerous man to please, even for his own family.

Fisher Engle is a former high school drug dealer who now works in Trent Kingston’s shady operations. Identifiable by his blue mohawk, he is easygoing and generally avoids conflict. He remains Venesa's only real friend from childhood, though his enduring crush on her cousin creates friction.

Bastien is Trent Kingston's quiet, highly skilled second-in-command. Often described as a cousin within the Kingston clan, he specializes in extracting information through brutal interrogation techniques. He works closely with Venesa, often handling the messy aftermath of her assignments.

Harald Andersen is Venesa's estranged Scandinavian father. A man with a history of severe alcoholism and gambling addiction, his past physical violence profoundly shaped his daughter's upbringing. His sudden reappearance in Atlantic Cove forces the family to confront long-buried trauma.

Gio serves as the second-in-command for the Marino crime family in New York. He is a pragmatic advisor who helps manage the syndicate's daily operations and investigates potential threats to the organization on Enzo's behalf.

Scotty is Enzo Marino's cousin and personal gofer. He travels with Enzo to South Carolina, handling errands, driving, and collecting rumors from the locals to keep his boss well-informed.